The Sacri Monti are a 15th and 16th century Italian invention: a kind of 'pilgrimage in miniature'. Instead of travelling all the way to Jerusalem, you could walk a chain of chapels closer to home, each housing life-sized terracotta statues and frescoes depicting a scene. What makes Crea special? Sacro Monte di Crea sits atop a hill in the middle of a wooded nature park. Between old oaks and chestnut trees, narrow paths lead past 23 chapels, with views across all of Monferrato — on a clear day all the way to the Monte Rosa. The highest point is crowned by the Cappella del Paradiso, on the tip of a rocky spire. Practical Free entry, year-round (chapels open in high season). Allow 1–2 hours for a relaxed walk past all the chapels. Sturdy shoes recommended — the path is paved but quite steep. Near the basilica there's a simple bar/trattoria for coffee or pasta. Go early in the morning or at sunset — you'll have the woods almost to yourself and the light through the trees is at its most beautiful.